Number 718
Type Workshop
Material Wool
Origin Kashan
Style Tree
Size 350 x 256
Age 1900
For Persian carpet lovers this is pure magic. It is a stellar example from the golden age of 'Manchester' Kashan weaving at the turn of the century when enterprising merchants in Kashan imported finely spun wool from the textile mills of Victorian Britain that was intended for weaving the finest cloaks and robes and instead used it in their carpet workshops. As a result no carpets in the world--apart from the Pashmina wonders of 17th century Mughal India--have a shinier and softer pile than these Manchester Kashan masterpieces.
Most of them obviously are of small size and the vast majority of this limited group are of traditional medallion design. Hence the unbelievable attraction of this room size landscape stunner. The lush woodlands and forests, the dense foliage of the trees and the flowers, the allure of the natural world on majestic display. Factor in the truly unreal color combination of creamy field with pinkish border with dollops of soft blue. As good as it gets, this carpet is.
Purchasing carpets from Hadi Maktabi was the epitome of professionalism and joy. Hadi is an expert curator, purveyor, historian and story teller. His passion, knowledge, professionalism and expertise are evident every step of the way. With a wide range of choices and prices, prompt service, and fast sipping, we had our carpets in Sydney in a matter of days. The ultimate flying carpet experience! Zeina Tebbutt, Sidney, Australia 🇦🇺
I first met Dr. Maktabi as a lecturer on carpet history and was captivated by his passion for the subject. Only later I knew him as a dealer, though even in our financial transactions, Hadi has been a gentle guide and friend. He has understood my taste and interests and made wonderful suggestions, but never in a pushy way. That is to say I have enjoyed working with him on several levels and wish to continue our excellent relations and dealings far into the future. A. Harvey Pincis, formerly Dar Al Athar Al Islamiyyah Museum (Kuwait), Latvia 🇱🇻
J’ai fait la connaissance de Hadi lors de la préparation de l’exposition « L’Empire des roses, chefs-d’œuvre de l’art persan du 19ème siècle » qui a eu lieu au Louvre-Lens en 2018 et à laquelle il a participé par le prêt de tapis exceptionnels. J’avais alors été impressionnée par ses connaissances et sa passion pour les tapis orientaux. Cette rencontre a marqué le début d’une collaboration riche et fructueuse. Elle a notamment permis au musée du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac de voir ses collections iraniennes s’enrichir de plusieurs tapis et tentures dont certains n’ont pas leur équivalent dans les musées occidentaux. Ce que j’apprécie chez Hadi ? C’est son professionnalisme, son dynamisme et l’engouement qu’il a pour son métier ! Hana Chidiac, Curator of the Middle East Department at the Musee Quai Branly - Jacques Chirac, Paris, France 🇫🇷